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A Second Chance though me
Rod ShimabukuroLeviticus 25: 35“‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.
36Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. 37You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. 38I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.
Really? Take care of “our poor” like we do or should strangers or foreigners? Why? So they could continue to live among you! Continue to live among you implies the poor will be among us - so let’s take care of them. The following verses give us specific commands on how to make this happen.
Then the strong reminder is for the readers to know, understand is… I am the Lord your God…who gave you a second chance and renewed life. So DON’T FORGET - GOD IS YOUR LORD WHO GAVE YOU LIFE - SO GIVE THE POOR LIFE.
The cure to homelessness? O God….You’re pressing me! It sounds like the text instructs me to start with our very own - our spiritual “Israelites” in our churches. What am I doing as a fellow Christian to help the poor among us? Pray. Is that enough? It’s a great start…but No! Counsel them to evaluate their life, decisions, budget…? Nice thought - but even this attempt can discourage, more than HELP the poor to continue living among us.
Our churches food banks and benevolence funds are being emptied. We refer people to our “For the Poor Assistance” guides, the state, food stamps, other ministries, churches and organizations. And Thank God for ALL of these I’ve mentioned!
Repentance again, is my closest companion - to return to acknowledging the the God is the Lord, my God - who brought me out of my “Egypt” bondage/world. He restored my fortunes in Christ! Now what?
Dear Abba Daddie God! Thank you for your great, faithful and enduring love of me, the family of God at Manoa and abroad! Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in my life… Help me to see the person, persons You want me to help - that they may continue to live among us.
Thank You for the hearts of Ray, Robert, Sam, Wally, Maura, Cay, Donna, Ramona, Chris, Kevin, Plymouth, and the host of other family who serve at River of Life and the homeless through out the South Shore! Thank you for giving the poor a second chance through me and our family!
